Header or upsetting machine



Oct. 16,1934, R. wlLcox V 1,977,161

HEADER OR UPSETTING moans :Filed July 7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

RICHARD LESTER MLCOX a M 9 A TT lzNEY.

1934- R. L. WILCOX VHEADER 0R UPSETTING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

RICHARD LESTER W/Lcox ATTORNEY.

Oct. 16, 1934.- R, L, wlLcox 1,977,161

HEADER on UPSETTING MACHINE I I I r I mmvron BY; [In

Oct. 16,1934. R. L. WILCOX 1,917,161

HEADER OR'UPSETTING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. file/MRO LESTER Wacox- AiToRNEY.

time.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED" STATES PATETV orrics HEADER OR UPSETTING MACHINE Richard Lester Wilcox, Waterbury, Conn, as-

signor to The Waterbury Farrel Foundryand' Machine Company, Waterbury, 001111., a corporation of Connecticut I Application July 7, 1932, Serial No. 621,205

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in header or upsetting machines, and particularly to the non-solid die or open die type.

A primary object of the present invention,

3 among other things, is to provide a single-blow header or upsetting machine, with a plurality of series of non-solid or open dies. When so constructed, the blank is cut off from a rod length, then transferred by transfer fingers or the like,

p to a pair of dies, and is then subjected to one of a series of operations, after which it is ejected, and then transferred by transfer fingers or the like to another pair of dies for a succeeding op eration. These operations are continued until the product is completed.

In the disclosure herein there are three sets of open dies, but a greater or less number may be used. Each of the series of operations is performed upon the blanks at one and the same Hencea plurality of operations are simultaneously performed upon the blank at a single stroke, with the result, that a completed product is produced at each blow.

Heretofore, in open die headers, the successive 35 operations have generally been performed while the blank is held in a single pair of dies, and by a plurality of punches associated therewith, which punch holder is moved to present in sequence the punches thereon. This requires parts to move 39 the punches andthetimerequired to complete the product is slowed up, because there must be several blows by the punches and hence several cycles of operation of the machine.

In this invention the punches are not shifted 35 relatively and a finished product is produced at described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures; Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of \55 a machine embodying this invention, the parts in (C1. Iii-12) section being taken generally upon line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 33-of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View thereof upon a larger scale, illustrating the relative positions of the several dies and knockout mechanism, with a blank in each of the dies, for the purpose of illustrating the several operations, the parts in section being taken generally upon line 44 of Figure 3;.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one of the pairs of dies; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of the die head and some associated parts.

In the embodiment of this invention, disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and not limitation, 10 indicates the body member of the headerhav ing a pocket 28 near one end thereof, 11 the crank shaft, which is rotatably mounted therein, 12 the gate slidably mounted in the body member and actuated from the crank shaft by the pitman 13, and 14 is the auxiliary shaft that is journaled in the body member and driven from the crank shaft 11 by the gears 15.

On the gate l2.is a backing plate 16, and adjustable thereon are a plurality of punch holders 1'7, secured by the bolts 18. Fixed on each punch holder at the top and bottom thereof, adjacent to its forward end, are cam plates 1 9.

In each punch holder is a punch, severally designated 20, 21 and 22. Independent vertical adjustment of the punch holders 17 relative to the plate 16 is obtained through the screws 23 in the fixed bracket 24. These punches are held against axial movement in operation and their endwise position determined by the wedges 25 that are mounted in the wedge blocks 26, adjustable on the gate 12, in a direction transverse to the movement thereof, by suitable screws '27.

The die head is designated 29,12, portion of which projects into and through the pocket 28, with a rear face abutting againstthe body wall 30, and having an overhanging portion 31 which rests upon the top of the body. This die head is secured rigidly to the body by screws 32 or the like.

In the face of the die head 29 are a plurality of recesses or pockets, corresponding in number with the pairs of dies, in thiscase, three in number. In each pocket there is a backing block 33, which is held in a fixed position by the screw 36, or the like, and derives a limited adjustment from the wedges 34, which are moved through the screw 35.

Below the backing blocks 33 is a pressure block 37, upon the top of which is a die plate 38. In the space between the backing blocks 33 and die plate 38, and separated by the fillers '77, are three sets of dies, with two dies 39 in each set. A perspective detail View of one of these dies, and a fragmentary view of the adjacent die, is shown in Figure 5.

The dies are of the conventional type, having a groove 40 in each side thereof that extends from and in line with the recess 41 in one'end of the die. When assembled, as shown in the drawings, there is an opening 42, which is surrounded by a recess 41 and groove extension 40. The recesses and grooves in the remaining sides of the die are surplus for any one operation, being provided merely for the purpose of furnishing addi+ tional die openings when the used opening in the recess becomes Worn and/ or unfit for further use. When the dies are together, as shown in Figure 5, the opening 42 therein is so positioned that its axis is coincident with and forms an extension of the axis of its adjacent punch.

Pressure block 37 has a slight movement within the die head 29 toward and away from the backing blocks '33 so as to relieve the pressure upon the dies in timed relation with the movement of the gate. This result is obtained by toggle mechanism, comprising links 43 that are pivotally connected respectively with the pressure block 37, a wedge plate 44, and a connection betweenthese links and the auxiliary shaft 14. As shown, this connection has two members 45 and 46, the former having a hinged joint with the links 43, and the latter sliding upon a block 47 on the shaft 14, and carrying cam rolls 48-which ride against the periphery of the cam 49 on shaft 14.

The members 45 and 46 are joined by a turnbuckle 50 of a well known type, whereby the relative distance between the members 45 and 46 may be varied. Rotation of the cam 49 imparts a reciprocating movement to the connec tion and actuates the toggle 43. 'Ihisgives a reciprocating movement to the pressure block 37 and through it applies and releases pressure to the dies 39. The timing of these operations is such that the dies 39 are held together under pressure after a blank has been inserted therebetween and during the operations thereon, and the pressure on the dies is relieved after the operations and while the blank is being ejected from therebetween. A close and accurate adjustment "of this die pressure mechanism is obtained through the *wedge 51, which also provides a support thereof.

Within a pocket 52 in the rear face of the die head 29 is an anvil plate 53, which provides a back support for the'dies, substantially as shown in Figure 2, as well as a die holder 54, in which is an extruding die 55. In the die head 29 is a cut-oif die 56 and abacking block 57 therefor.

The cut-01f mechanism comprises a cutter 58,

which is connected with a cut-oif bar 59, and 0p erates in a well known manner.

The transfer mechanism is constructed with a frame 60 that "is secured at one end to the bar 59 and at the other end to a bar 61, both being sli-dable within the body member 16. This frame is slidably mounted in ways 62 and 63 that are adjustably secured to the dle head 29' by the bolts 64, or the like. Endwise' adjustment of these ways is facilitated by adjusting screws 65. Pivo-tally mounted on the frame 60 are the transfer fingers 66, which are actuated in one direction by the springs 6'7, so that their outer ends are moved toward each other to hold a blank therebetween, substantially as shown in Figure 3, and in the opposite direction by the gate 12, through the contact of the cam plates 19 with the cam blocks 68, on each of the fingers. As the gate 12 travels toward the die head, the cam plates 19 contact with the blocks 68 and move the fingers 66 upon their pivot mounting, so that the holding ends thereof are separated and when the gate travels in the opposite direction the cam plates 19 are 'moved'away from the cam blocks and the springs 67 return the spring fingers to their former positions.

As illustrated, this invention is utilized for the construction of a bolt having a relatively long shank extruded at its outer end by having its diameter reduced so that when a thread is rolled thereon the outside diameter of the thread will be substantially the same as the outside diameter of the shank.

The mechanism for feeding the rodinto the machine and for actuating the knockout mechanism may be of any co'nventionalor approved form and is therefore not essential to be described in connection with the present invention.

In operation, a rod 69 is'moved through a quill '70 in the body member 10, the backing block 57 andcut-ofi die 56. When projected beyond the face of the cut-01f die the required distance, determined by a stop (not shown), of any preferred form, the cutter 58 moves across the face of the cut-off die 56 and severs such projecting portion, which now becomes a blank for subsequent operations. It is carried by this cutter 58 and fingers 71 associated therewith until its is coincident with that of the opening in the adjacent pair of dies. The blank in this prxsition is now engaged by the punch 20, which'moves it into the opening 42 until the inner end thereof abuts against the knockout rod '72. The blank at its outer end is now'upset by the punch '20 which forms the head "73. As the gate then moves away fromthe dies the pressure thereon is relieved through the toggle mechanism above described. and the knockout rod 72 ejects the blank from the dies. While being so ejected the transfer fingers 66 engage the shank of the blank and hold the same therebetween. During the operations just described another length of the rod 69 is projected through the cut-off die 56 to be cut oil by the next succeeding motion of the cutter 58.

As the cutter 58 cuts off a new blank, the fingers 66 carry the blank with its upset head to a pos'i tion where its axis is coincident with that of the punch 21 and at the same time bringing the new blank into line with the punch 20. The gate now moves forwardly again and the punches '20 and 21 engage the new and partially upset blanks and project the same into the openings 42 in the dies which are again held together under pressure and hold the blanks rigidly therebetween; the inner ends of the shanks abutting against the knockout rods '12 and '74. A further upsetting of the blank to form the completed head 75 is made by the 'punch'2l. The operations are repeated and a new length of rod 69' being fed through the cut-off die, the blanks in the dies having a preliminary and final upsetting are ejected from the dies, during which time pressure is applied and relieved through the action of the toggle mechanism and the transfer fingers grasp and carry the blanks from one station to the next station. At the last station the pu'nch22 projects the blank between the dies and the inner end into the extruding die 55, thus completing "the operations upon the blankfirst out, which is ejected by the knockout. rod 76 a completed product, which drops into a receptacle conveniently arranged to receive it.

'With this mechanism there are a" plurality of sets of open dies which maybe unlimited in numher, as the character of the metal or product demands, and a completed blankproduced at each cycle of operations, the plural blowsrequired being successfully applied during succeeding strokes of the gate. The dies are all assembled on a single member and as a unitassembled with the header. By suitable adjustments the relativepositions of the dies and the extent of-the pressure thereon are provided for.. Likewise, thetransfer mechanism maybe also constructed as "a unit and assembled and installed in the header after the die mechanism has been similarly positioned:

As headers of this type are liable to be very heavy. it is quite advantageous to minimize the handling thereof in their manufacture, and provide a machine whereby so many essential and moving parts,.relatively small in size, may be assembled as a unit before being positioned in the header, reducing materially. the cost of manufacture, as well as facilitate the assembly of the parts, relativeadjustments thereof, and the substitution of repair parts, or the like. '1 i What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described; a machine body; a die head. detachably mounted thereon; a cut-off die; a pair of open upsetting dies and an extruding die, all mounted in said die head; independent means for cutting off a blank at the cut-off die and transferring it to the adjacent die; means connected and movable with the cut-off means for transferring the blank from the latter die to the next die; and means, in part movably connected with the die'head, for closing the open dies by pressure applied in a direction at substantially a right angle to the path of movement of the blanks in transfer.

2. In an apparatus of the character described; a plurality of open dies; a member detachably mounted to the body of the machine and within which the dies are held; means for varying the relative position of the dies in said member; means assembled and adjustable on the member for holding the dies in their closed position irrespective of theiradjustedpositions;andmeansfor transferring blanks from one of said dies to anotherof said dies, comprising in part a frame movably mounted in ways adjustably mounted on the face of the member for holding the frame in aligned position; and fingers movably mounted upon the frame for grasping the work therebetween and transferring it from one die to another die.

3. In an apparatus of the character described; a machine body; a cut-off die; a pair of open upsetting dies; a member detachably mounted on the machine body and in which the dies are all held with an exposed face in substantially the same plane, a transfer frame movably mounted within the machine body and in front of said dies; a cut-off bar connected and movable therewith; transfer fingers on said frame; and means adjustably connected with the member for holding the transfer frame in its aligned position.

4. In an apparatus of the character described;

a machine body; ;a die head at one end of themachine body, a series of upsetting dies arranged in substantially the same line in the die head; a cut-off die in the die head adjacent tosaid upsettingdies; means independent of the cut-off die that moves across the face of thecut-off .die for cuttingv off a portion of arod length at the cutoff die and transferring it to the next adjacent one of said series of dies; other means secured to and movable in advance of the cut-off means for transferring the blank from said last mentioned die to the next die in the series; a gate; a plurality of punchesassociated with the gate; and means for actuating the gate whereby all of said punches will simultaneously perform an operation upon each blank in eachof the series of dies, said die head and dies being. connected with and removed from the machine body as a unit.

5. In an apparatus of the character described; a plurality'of open dies; a'die head detachably mounted on the body of the machine and within which the dies are mounted; a clamping mechanism in part movably connected with the die head, for closing the dies? means for cutting off a blank length andtransferring it to an adjacent die; and means'for transferring the cut off blank from the latter die tothe nextqdie, comprising in part a frame movably mounted in the die head and connected with the cut-off means; and fingers movably mounted upon the frame opposite to each other for grasping the blank therebetween and-supporting it :during transit.

6. In a header or upsetting machine; a machine body having a pocket at one end; a die head mounted in the pocket with one face thereof against a face of the pockethaving a recess in the front thereof; dies within the recess; a movable support in the die headfor the dies; toggle actuated companion links foractuating the movable support, one link being connected with the movable member and another with a fixed part; means-for varying the position of thelinks relative to the die head; a'backing block in the die head for determining one position of the dies; means connected with the die head for adjusting the backing block; and means movably mounted on the die head for transferring articles from one die toanother, all of the said parts being assembled on the die head and with the die head fixed in the machine body as a unit.

7. In an apparatus of the character described; a plurality of dies, one of which is a cut-off die; a die head attached to the body of the machine and within which the dies are mounted; means for cutting 01f a blank length at the cut-off die and transferring it to an adjacent die, said means being movably mounted in the body of the machine and moving across the face of the cut-off die; and means for transferring the blank from the cut-off die to the next die, comprising in part a frame fixed to the cut-off means and projecting in advance thereof; ways connected with the die head forming a support and guide for said frame, fingers movably mounted upon the frame upon opposite sides of the dies, means connected with said frame and fingers for moving the fingers so that the ends thereof will move toward each other, grasp a blank therebetween and support it during transit from one die to another, and independently actuated means for moving 145 said fingers in opposite directions.

8. In an apparatus of the character described;

a plurality of dies, one of which is a cut off die; a die head attached to the body of the machine and within which the dies are mounted; means for. cutting off; a blanklength at the cut-.ofi) die; and; transferring-"into" an adj acent die, said means beingv movably mounted. in thebody of: the machine and. moving across the face: of the cut-off die; and means for transferring. the blankfrom the cut-off die to the: next die, comprising. in part a frame-fixed to the cut-off meansand pr0- j'ecting in advance thereof. and supported in part by said body; ways connected with the' die head forming a support. and. guide for said frame, fingers movably mounted upon the frame upon opposite sides of the dies,v means connected with said frame and fingers for moving the fingers so that the ends thereof will move toward each other, g asp a blank therebetween and support it during transit from one (note another, and independently actuated means, formoving said fingers in opposite directions.

' 9. In an apparatus-of thecharacter described; a plurality of sets of dies, one oi which is a cut-off die, spaced from'each other; a die head attached to'the body of the machine and within which the dies are mounted; a backing block for each of said sets of dies mounted within said die head; means for adjusting the relative-positioned said backing blocks within said die head; means for locking said backing block in any ofv its adjusted positions; means for cutting off a blank length at the cu-t-ofl3 die and transferring it to an adjacent die, said means being movably mounted in the; body of the machine and moving across the face of the cut-ofbdie; and means for transferring, the blank from the cut-off die to the next die, comprising in part a-frame fixed to i the cut-oiT means and projecting in advance thereof; ways.- connected with the die head formmachine and within which. the dies are mounted;

means: for cutting ofi a blank length at the cutoff die and transferringit t'o anadjacent die; means for transferring the blank thereafter l to the next-die in the series; comprising in part a frame'secured to the cut'-off means and projecting in. advance thereof; means connected with the die head to support and guide the frame in its transfer movement; fingers movably mounted uponthe frame upon opposite sides of the dies; means connected with the frame and fingers for moving the fingers s0 that-the ends thereof will travel toward each other, grasp a blank therebetween and support it during transit from one die to another; and independently actuated means for. moving said fingers in opposite directions;-

11. In an apparatus of thecharacter described; a machine body; a separable die head rigidly secured to the body member; 'a pair' of 'open. dies within the die head; means forv'arying' the relative. position of the dies within the die head and in adirection at approximately a right anglev to the path of.- the blank as it approaches and is presented to the dies; toggle mechanism mounted upon the die-head for applying pressure to one of the dies and thereby holding the dies in their closed position, irrespective of their adjusted-positions, said die head, dies and toggle mechanism being associated with and removable from the machine body'as a unit; and independent means for actuating the toggle mechanism. J l:

, 12: Ina header; upsetting machine orth'e' like; a body member; a separable die head rigidly se-' cured to the body member; a plurality: of sets of open diesmounted in the die head so as 'to occupy varying, relative positions within the die head; fillers between the sets of dies; toggle pres sure means-in part 'movably connected with the die head for applying pressure to one ofthe dies and therebyholding the diesin their closed-position; and one or more adjustable backing blocks for the dies'mountedwithin the die head, the die head dies, fillers, backing block and pressure means-beingassociated with and removablesfrorn the body member as a unit. Y

RICHARD LESTER WILCOX. 

